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Thursday, December 30, 2004
P2.3M in Sinulog costs ‘wasted’
By Linette C. Ramos
Sun.Star Staff Reporter
THERE will be no Sinulog sa Kabataan sa Dakbayan next year.
With Mayor Tomas Osmeña’s decision to cancel the participation of Cebu City public schools in next year’s grand parade, some P2.3 million worth of costumes and props will go to waste.
“It’s too unfortunate. The mayor has his own views and I have my own but he maintained his stand.
It’s final, there will be no Sinulog sa Kabataan sa Dakbayan,” Vice Mayor Michael Rama told
reporters yesterday.
At least 15 choreographers of different schools appealed to Rama that they be allowed to join, but to no avail.
Rama, overall chairman of the Sinulog Foundation Inc., had to apologize to the 20 contingents who already confirmed their participation, after he failed to dissuade the mayor from implementing his plan.
Rama and officers of the Sinulog Foundation met with the choreographers yesterday morning to announce the mayor’s decision.
The vice mayor also sought the stand of city councilors, who all want public schools to participate in the 25th anniversary celebration of the Sinulog.
Because of the public schools’ poor performance in the National Achievement Test, Osmeña prohibited all public schools from joining the competition.
Expenses
Less than two weeks before the Sinulog sa Kabataan, more than 10 schools already spent between P80,000 and P345,000 for costumes, props, practices and talent fees of choreographers.
Close to 15 choreographers complained to Rama yesterday that 11 schools already spent at least P2.29 million.
Expenses
The elementary schools that already spent for the Sinulog are Talamban Elementary School (P315,000), Guadalupe Elementary School (P345,000), Camputhaw Elementary School (P300,000), Sawang Calero and Punta Princesa Elementary School (P120,000).
The high schools include Ramon Duterte (P300,000), Barrio Luz (P180,000), Don Sergio Osmeña (P80,000), Bulacao (P140,000), Don Vicente Rama (P250,000), Camp Lapu-Lapu (P140,000) and Zapatera Night High School (P120,000).
Rama and the councilors are hopeful, though, that Osmeña will change his mind after his New
Year break with his family in Hong Kong.
Since the Sinulog sa Kabataan started in 1995, this will be the first time the competition among public schools in the city will not be held.
“They were all very unhappy about it, of course, because they already spent a lot of money and are expecting they will be able to perform. So I told them I’m very sorry but I have done my best,” Rama said.
The choreographers also asked whether the City Government will refund their expenses, but Osmeña already said earlier that the City will not do so.
10 less
Without the event, the grand parade on Jan. 16 will be short of 10 contingents, said Ricky Ballesteros, executive director of the Sinulog Foundation.
Five elementary schools and five high schools that will win in the Sinulog sa Kabataan
automatically become entries to the grand parade.
Parade
Since withdrawing the 10 contingents will affect the flow of the parade, Ballesteros said they will have to start the parade after lunch so it can end around 7 p.m., in time for the fireworks.
The foundation also moved the Sinulog sa Kabataan sa Lalawigan to Jan. 9 instead of Jan. 8, since the Sinulog sa Kabataan sa Dakbayan will no longer be held.
Fifteen contingents from public schools in the province confirmed their participation.
As for schools that are sponsored by private companies, Ballesteros said they may still be able to join the grand parade provided they make their contingent barangay-based.
Instead of an all-student contingent, majority of the performers must be residents of the barangay.
The contingent must also not carry the name of the school and participating students must not be asked to practice during class hours, Ballesteros said.
(December 30, 2004 issue)
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